The Veteran's service-connected rheumatic fever with secondary rheumatic heart mitral valve disease prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as determined by the Board.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran was unable to perform physical and strenuous jobs due to his service-connected disability but had no significant limitation for sedentary work. The Board found in favor of granting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from December 9, 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatic fever with secondary rheumatic heart mitral valve disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20043722
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20043722.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected rheumatic fever with secondary rheumatic heart mitral valve disease does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical and vocational assessments to determine his functional limitations caused by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, as well as its impact on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's heart disability, which includes rheumatic fever with secondary rheumatic heart mitral valve disease and coronary artery disease with single vessel stent placement, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.